La Gran Sabana, a region situated in the southeast of Bolívar state, in Venezuela, south of the Orinoco River; is completely occupied by the mountain mass of the Guayanas, comprised of concentrations of ancient rocks, generally metamorphic, formed out of blocks of granite. Geographically speaking, the region of the Gran Sabana includes only those parts of the plateaus which developed in the high basin of the Orinoco River, over 800 meters above sea level. The Gran Sabana, defined in that way, extends almost 75,000 Km2 in the south-eastern portion of Bolívar state. The principal sub-basin hydrology is shaped by the rivers: Yuruaní, Aponwao, Kukenán, Suruku, Icabarú, Caruay, Urimán and Antabare.

So, this is how the journey starts:

My father and I took a Ferry at 6:00am from Margarita Island to Puerto la Cruz the Friday before carnivals, the rest of the group rode from Caracas to Puerto la Cruz the same day so we can meet there...

Yep, 3:44 am... you know, old farts need a lot of time to prepare their bikes!

Everything is ready! Let’s go!!!

Waiting for the damn Ferry (it is always late)

Meanwhile the team from Caracas was preparing all!

Then we arrived in Puerto la Cruz (thanks god, I was starting to feel seasick!). We met them at Wendy’s.

After 30 min of riding we had to do a brief stop, all of us were begging for water! (90ºF)

Back on the road Cesar senior had the first flat! (It’s a KTM, what else can you expect? ) His son, Cesar Jr, tried to fix it but we didn’t had a good pump so Julio and Jesus (chuchu) took the rim to ‘’El Tigre’’ (20kms ahead) and solved the problem in a gas station.

We made a little stop at ‘’El Tigre’’ and then we kept riding. There is a Highway (long as hell) between El Tigre and Puerto Ordaz crossing the only pine plantation (big ass plantation) of the country, my KLR was doing 100mph and it felt like 50!

That day we arrived at 8:00 pm in Puerto Ordaz, before entering to the city, Alexander’s Super Enduro ran out of gas, we made a stop at a cop station and one of them gave us gas from his truck... The next day we went to a hardware store and bought some plastic gas cans, just in case of emergency!

Now we have left the city the goal is ‘’Guasipati’’!!! In our first stop we realized that the GIVI saddlebags of Julio were MELTING!!! Those heat resistant panels were not THAT resistant...

Here we are! Guasipati!!! That day the people were celebrating ‘’Los Carnavales del Callao’’ (The Callao Carnivals). The group wanted to go that night but I stayed with my father in the room (They didn’t even took a shower!!!)

The next day we had to ride up to the camp in la sabana! So everybody woke up early and prepared their bikes...

This is a bridge built by Gustave Eifell, but it’s not longer in use, although it still remains as a tourist attraction.

Once in the ‘’Km88’’ we had to stop to fill the mules with gas... gas supply in la sabana and Santa Elena de Uairen is very irregular due to the gas traffic, yes, gas traffic! Here in Venezuela we pay 3$ cents per liter while Brazilians pay $1.30 per liter...

Ahead we found some funny twisties! But the rain ruined it all... this is ‘’La Piedra de la Virgen’’ (The Virgin’s stone)

Here it is! LA GRAN SABANA! The landscapes are just A M A Z I N G.

This is where some scenes of Jurassic Park were filmed!!!

We took a little gravel road to see a monument called ‘’El Soldado Pionero’’ (The Pioneer Soldier)...

Gas is running out so let’s find the station!

Once in the station... WTF???? (thanks god it wasn’t filled with gas)

There are only 70kms left of gravel roads to reach the camp!

The last Kms were the hardest!!! (rocks, sand, rocks, hills, rocks and more rocks)

Finally!!! Campamento Mantopai (Mantopai Camp) that night I slept like a baby...

The next day in the morning Julio, Chuchu, Alexander, Cesar Jr and I, unloaded the bikes and went for a hooligan ride near the camp, it is such a beautiful place!

We found a little town called Kavanayen (That means ‘’Sealed in stone’’ in Pemon language) all the structures are made of stone, there is a beautiful church in the middle of the town... all the kids were watching us as if we were aliens.

That night we slept at the camp and the next day in the morning everybody was ready to leave... That day we had to ride to Santa Elena de Uairen! Oh oh... dead battery!

Santa Elena de Uairen is city in the south of Bolívar State, in Venezuela, capital of the Gran Sabana Municipal District. It is the best place to embark on touristic activities, since it is found near the most impressive natural wonders in the Gran Sabana.

This time we decided to stay in an inn, we were so tired. That night in the dinner we meet a guy that has a Toyota Coaster, he offered us a day tour out of the town so we can visit the principal touristic attractions it sounded good, besides the bikes needed a rest.

The tour was sooooooo exciting!!!

We went to a waterfall called ‘’La Cortina’’, you can pass behind the water curtain but I didn’t dare hehe.

Then we went to another place called ‘’La quebrada de jaspe’’ (Jasper Creek)

Once in the inn we unloaded the bikes, going that far without visiting Brazil is a shame… Carlos knew about a place called ‘’Churrascaria’’ it’s an all you can eat, tons and tons of Brazilian meat mmmm… after that we made a little stop at a souvenir store before leaving the border!

That was the last day of the trip, on Friday morning we left the city and rode to Guasipati… That day something was against us, my father got a broken clutch cable and Julio got a flat! Fortunately everything was solved and we arrived to Guasipati.

In the morning me and my father left earlier than the rest of the group because we had to be at 4:00 pm in Puerto la Cruz to take the ferry… We arrived at Margarita at 8:00 pm. La Gran Sabana is such a big place, we were 1 week and didn’t even know the half of it but it’s a good excuse to return the next year!!!

What's up teddy is Chu2 this weekend we the group of Caracas we went to La sabana and them we went to higerote I Have to go to Maragarita to make some of the trips that you make there, se you soon un gran saludo desde aqui desde Caracas Jesus Laya.

Gracias amigo- I'd heard about 'La Gran Sabana' from some of the Venezuelans I worked with for a number of years- good to finally see some photos of that most interesting area. I enjoyed your report and pics.

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"I can't think of nothing better than riding a fine horse through new country. It's what I was meant for,,,,,", Gus, Lonesome Dove

What's up teddy is Chu2 this weekend we the group of Caracas we went to La sabana and them we went to higerote I Have to go to Maragarita to make some of the trips that you make there, se you soon un gran saludo desde aqui desde Caracas Jesus Laya.

What's up chuchu? of course you have to come, how can you miss these lovely sandy trails? (ask carlos hehe) you're always welcome! here are some pics with my father and my old Suzuki TS125: